Character Relationship Map: Amongst Barbarians

Characters

• George (played by David Jason) — protagonist
• Wendy (played by Rowena Cooper) — supporting
• Toni (played by Anne Carroll) — supporting
• Lilly (played by Kathy Burke) — supporting
• Bryan (played by Lee Ross) — supporting
• Ralph (played by Con O'Neill) — supporting
• British Consul (played by Anthony Smee) — supporting
• Gaoler (played by Madhav Sharma) — supporting
• Barman (played by Ricardo Sibelo) — supporting
• Reporter (played by Keith Varnier) — supporting
• Katie (played by Josephine Welcome) — supporting
• German Prisoner (played by Tip Tipping) — minor
• Guard (played by Nigel Fan) — minor
• Lily's Baby (played by Jason Mumford) — minor
• Lily's Baby (played by Robert Mumford) — minor

Story Analysis

In Penang, relatives struggle to save two Englishmen facing the death penalty, while their failed intervention exposes their racism and leaves the meaning of barbarism in question.

Plot Progression

1. Arrest in Penang — The story is set in Penang, where two young Englishmen are arrested for drug trafficking. Their legal predicament places them at risk of the death penalty.
2. A Family Rescue Mission — The men's relatives travel to Penang in an effort to rescue them. They try to influence the authorities, but their efforts prove futile.
3. The Failure to Intervene — The relatives come to understand that they cannot save the young men. Their inability to change the outcome sharpens the story's sense of helplessness.
4. The Unanswered Accusation — The relatives' racism becomes apparent as they pursue help. The story closes around an unresolved question about who should be considered barbaric.